A Baby Cat Who Commands the Dog Clan - Chapter 99

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 99
“And what’s got you in such a rush, pushing a debt repayment token at me right off the bat?”
Nam Goong Ho and Dang Yi Mu exchanged words before embracing each other warmly.
No matter what else, the joy of reunion was unmistakable.
Watching them, Hong Seol felt her chest tighten with emotion.
‘Would I be like that if I saw the people I love after so long?’
Today, she found herself missing those she had left behind at the Nam Goong Family Estate terribly.
And Pal Shin Woo as well.
‘The next time I have a chance to venture into the Market District, I must ask the Beggar Sect to send word.’
But why had those beggars looked so busy just moments ago?
Hong Seol tilted her head in puzzlement.
Nam Goong Baek, who had waited for Nam Goong Ho and Dang Yi Mu to finish catching up, performed a light fist salute.
“I pay my respects to the Poison King. I am Nam Goong Baek.”
“…!”
Dang Yi Mu’s expression shifted with surprise—he hadn’t expected Nam Goong Baek to come all the way to Sichuan.
“How you’ve grown.”
As always, Nam Goong Baek bowed with measured courtesy, his demeanor perfectly composed.
Then it was Hong Seol’s turn. When Dang Yi Mu saw the small child dressed in fine silk garments, his eyes gleamed with recognition.
“So you’re the one…!”
Hong Seol’s heart raced as she bowed respectfully to the man before her.
“I, I am Nam Goong Seol, a humble student of the Martial Arts World, and I pay my respects to the Poison King.”
Hong Seol offered the alias she had chosen for this journey, watching carefully for Dang Yi Mu’s reaction.
That this grandfather was the white serpent she had met atop Dae Chuk Mountain—it was almost impossible to believe.
The memory of that day threatened to make her legs tremble, but she caught herself.
‘I’m not that Hong Seol anymore!’
Hong Seol lifted her head with confidence.
‘Besides, the Poison King is the one who gave me the thousand-year fleece flower root!’
Even if she had taken Grandfather’s debt repayment token with her.
In any case, Dang Yi Mu was Grandfather Nam Goong Ho’s close friend. There was no reason to fear that he would harm her.
“Thank you for giving me the thousand-year fleece flower root. Thanks to it, I’ve become much healthier!”
Hong Seol beamed at Dang Yi Mu with a bright smile.
At that, the Poison King Dang Yi Mu’s smooth face broke into a grin.
“I can scarcely believe it. To think you’re that grimy child from before!”
“And that’s not all. Seol Ah has even mastered external cultivation techniques quite well in the meantime.”
Nam Goong Ho, never one to hold back, interjected suddenly.
“So you’ve been taking good care of her, have you, Nam Goong Ho?”
“Of course!”
Nam Goong Ho beamed with satisfaction.
“Yi Woon, come out and greet the Sword King.”
Dang Yi Mu called forward a young boy who had been standing behind him.
The moment Nam Goong Baek saw that face, his expression froze over like a winter lake.
“Dang Yi Woon of the Sichuan Poison Sect, I pay my respects to the Sword King.”
Dang Yi Woon cupped his fist in salute with a solemn expression.
His appearance matched the portrait hanging in the study perfectly.
Nam Goong Ho’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Ah, so you’re Yi Woon! You’ve grown into quite the fine young man.”
Nam Goong Baek’s stomach twisted further at his grandfather’s thoughtless praise.
“You flatter me, Sword King.”
Dang Yi Woon bowed his head respectfully.
He was a boy with impeccable manners, and possessed a natural charm that drew people in.
Nam Goong Baek’s eyes narrowed with suspicion as he watched him.
‘That’s not like a Sichuan Dang Family member. Or is he hiding his true nature?’
Dang Yi Woon flashed a bright smile even toward Nam Goong Baek.
“Baek is far more handsome than I am. He’s still the perfect jade as he was in childhood.”
What?
Nam Goong Baek’s eyebrows twitched.
‘Is he saying I haven’t improved since childhood?’
After nodding to Nam Goong Baek, Dang Yi Woon had already turned his attention to Hong Seol.
“Welcome, Seol Ah! Since I’m the same age as Baek, you should call me older brother.”
‘What? Seol Ah?’
Nam Goong Baek didn’t even consider that Hong Seol had given a false name—he simply glared at Dang Yi Woon for calling her “Seol Ah” just as he did.
The way he smiled as if this place belonged to him irritated Nam Goong Baek immensely.
‘That bastard needs to learn his place.’
Unaware that Nam Goong Baek’s eyes had turned glacial.
Dang Yi Woon spoke with the brightness of sunlight.
“Shall I show our guests to the Guest Hall, Grandfather?”
That was when it happened.
“Ahem!”
An uncomfortable cough echoed from somewhere.
Dang Yi Mu’s eyes sharpened in an instant.
“The Family Head has arrived.”
A middle-aged man leading the Fierce Snake Squad, the pride of the Sichuan Poison Sect, advanced with heavy, deliberate steps.
True to their name of fierce serpents, the warriors each emanated an extraordinary and menacing presence.
“Grandfather….”
Hong Seol felt a chill run down her spine and hid behind Nam Goong Ho. Nam Goong Ho spoke softly.
“There is nothing to fear.”
The man called Family Head stopped before Nam Goong Ho.
His broad shoulders and angular, triangular eyes gave him an unmistakably formidable appearance.
The moment their eyes met, Hong Seol trembled and unconsciously gripped Nam Goong Ho’s collar.
“This is most disappointing, Sword King.”
A sinister voice echoed through the cave as if shaking its very walls.
Dang Won Pyung, the patriarch of the Dang Family.
He performed a respectful fist salute before Nam Goong Ho.
“Had we known of your early arrival, our Fierce Snake Squad would have gone all the way to Gang Naru to welcome you.”
“I had no wish to burden the family patriarch, whose mind must be occupied with managing the clan.”
“A thoughtful gesture indeed. But what brings the Grand Patriarch of the Nam Goong Family all the way to distant Sichuan?”
“I came to meet an old friend.”
Dang Won Pyung asked again, his expression hardening.
“I shall ask directly—you did not come because of the Young Patriarch Selection, did you?”
“I only learned that the Young Patriarch Selection was taking place after arriving in Sichuan. Moreover….”
As he spoke, Nam Goong Ho turned to look back. His old friend, Poison King Dang Yi Mu, was grinning wickedly.
Goosebumps erupted across my entire body, just as they had when watching puppet theater in the Market District.
‘What scheme could the old man of the Dang Family be plotting…?’
Nam Goong Ho suppressed his unease and continued speaking.
“What significance could it possibly hold if the Nam Goong Family, situated in the distant land of Anhui, were to support someone?”
At Nam Goong Ho’s unusually humble words, Dang Won Pyung smiled with satisfaction.
The Sichuan Tang Family was renowned for being stubborn and refusing to listen to others.
Moreover, with their considerable pride, they would not tolerate outside forces meddling in their family affairs.
Nam Goong Ho understood this well.
That is why he had reassured the family patriarch with measured words.
That the Nam Goong Family had no intention of interfering in the succession of the Dang Family’s patriarch position.
Of course, as a friend of Dang Yi Mu, his position might differ.
“You must be weary. Shall we proceed to the Guest Hall? It has been long since the Sword King graced our Sichuan Poison Sect with a visit, and we shall ensure you are well received.”
“Forgive me, but I shall have my old friend guide me to the Guest Hall.”
Nam Goong Ho refused flatly.
Dang Won Pyung’s jaw tightened for a moment, but he soon bowed his head gracefully.
“As you wish. However, would you not join us for dinner at the Inner Fortress?”
His gaze turned toward Dang Yi Mu.
“Of course, the Poison King and Dang Yi Woon shall join us as well.”
For but a moment, I saw it clearly.
The way Dang Won Pyung’s eyes glared at Dang Yi Mu as if to devour him whole.
Meanwhile, Dang Yi Mu merely smiled smoothly with a sly grin.
“So it shall be.”
With Nam Goong Ho’s reply, the situation seemed to settle, yet something ominous appeared to be unfolding.
“Let us go.”
As I followed Dang Yi Mu’s footsteps, I kept glancing back over my shoulder.
The gazes of the family patriarch and the Fierce Snake Squad pricked like needles against my back.
* * *
Upon seeing the intricately carved pillars adorned with floral patterns, admiration escaped unbidden.
“Wow!”
Hong Seol was admiring the Guest Hall of the Sichuan Tang Family.
The quarters provided by the Dang Family were divided into one large reception room and several smaller inner chambers.
It was a consideration for Nam Goong Ho’s reluctance to keep the children at a distance.
The Sword King’s reputation was well-deserved; the hospitality was quite generous.
If anything was needed, one merely had to shake the bell placed on the table. Four or five attendants were always waiting outside, and they would rush in the moment they were summoned.
As Hong Seol glanced around the room, she stole a quick look behind her.
‘I wonder if Grandfather is alright? His expression looked so serious.’
The moment Nam Goong Ho entered the Guest Hall, he sat across from Dang Yi Mu and opened the conversation.
“Why didn’t you mention that the Young Master selection tournament was held? What was the result?”
At those words, Hong Seol gasped and clutched her chest involuntarily.
‘How can he ask such a thing with the person in question standing right there!’
Truly, Grandfather was always so direct. Yet neither Dang Yi Woon standing beside her nor Dang Yi Mu sitting across from him seemed the least bit shaken.
In fact, there was even a hint of pride in the corner of Dang Yi Mu’s mouth.
“My Yi Woon wouldn’t lose in such a competition. He made it into the final three candidates.”
“Oho.”
Nam Goong Ho’s eyes gleamed at Dang Yi Mu’s confident words.
Judging by how quickly he had sent a token of gratitude, his friend’s situation didn’t appear to be in poor standing.
“Who are the other three?”
“The Family Head’s eldest son, Dang Cheon Gang, and a branch member, Dang Bo Young. But now that I think about it, there aren’t three anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“A month ago, a boy named Dang Bo Young suddenly collapsed just before the martial competition.”
“What?”
Nam Goong Ho’s face darkened.
For a Young Master candidate to collapse within the heavily guarded Dang Family Village was no trivial matter.
“What is the boy’s condition?”
“He’s barely clinging to life now. That’s why the Young Master selection tournament was temporarily suspended.”
Dang Yi Mu paused for a moment before continuing.
“The most shocking part is that the reason for his collapse was poison.”
“…!”
Nam Goong Ho’s complexion changed.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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